Helen of Caernarfon

Saint Helen of Caernarfon or Helen of Carnarvon, known in Welsh tradition as Elen Luyddog (Helen of the Hosts), was a late 4th-century founder of churches in Wales who is remembered as a saint. Traditionally she is said to have been a daughter of the Romano-British ruler Octavius (Eudaf Hen) and the wife of Emperor Magnus Clemens Maximus or Macsen, Emperor in Britain, Gaul and Spain, who was killed in battle in 388. She is commemorated on May 22.[1]

She is remembered for having Macsen build roads across her country so that the soldiers could more easily defend it from attackers, thus earning her the name Elen Luyddog (Elen of the Hosts).

Since many characters in these tales are thought to be Christianized reflections of older deities, it has been suggested that Elen reflects (along with Rhiannon, etc.) a tradition of goddesses of sovereignty.[2]

She is said to have ordered the making of Sarn Helen, the great Roman road running from Caernarfon to south Wales via Dolgellau, Pennal and Bremia (Llanddewi Brefi). Though this road bears her name it is considerably older than Elen's accepted time period. Many other Roman roads in Wales bear her name (e.g. Llwybr Elen) and she is thus acknowledged as the patron saint of British roadbuilders and the protectress of travellers. The Welsh translation of Legion is Leng, therefore the Roman road called Sarn Elen could also be a mutation of Sarn y leng (The Legions Road).